Yosi Horikawa

An architectural acoustician by trade, Yosi Horikawa revels in the sounds made by everyday objects. It was the discovery that found sounds could be honed into beautiful music and, oddly enough, the cover art of KRS-One's Return of the Boom Bap that led him to begin a nascent recording career as a pre-teen. Since then, the producer has been incorporating field recordings into his compositions, often allowing these non-traditional sounds to become the soul of the music. This approach allows Horikawa'ss voice, one that incorporates elements of both dance music and hip-hop, to stand out. Vapor (his first full-length release for the First Word imprint) demonstrates the singular nature of Horikawa's sound across 16 tracks laced with nature's harmonies and the sounds of humankind's creations. It's a relaxing record that flows seamlessly from beginning to end, showcasing just how well adapted Horikawa's formula is for creating splendid music.